Wire-tightener for fences



(No Model.)

W. M. SKELTON.

WIRE TIGHTENBR FOR FENCES.

Patented Feb. 16, 1892'.

aw QMW ATTORNEY.

' housing.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

VILLIAM M. SKELTON, OF LEBANON, INDIANA.

WIRE-TIGHTEN ER FOR FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,218, dated February 16, 1892. Application filed April 29, 1891. Serial No. 390,969. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, WILLIAM M. SKEL'roN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lebanon,in the county of Boone and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Tighteners for Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical central section. Fig. 2 is a top View.

This invention has relation to wire-tighteners for fences; and it consists in the novel construction thereof, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letter A designates a ratchet device, which comprises the case or housing formed in two longitudinal sections suitably secured together and cut away at the center to form the open chamber B. Arranged in this chamber is a spool 0, having its ends journaled in the sides of the case or On each end of this spool, inside the casing, is a ratchet-wheel D, arranged to turn with'the' spool. A single gravity-pawl E, hung in one end of the casing, engages the teeth of the ratchet and prevents the backward movement of the spool, or separate pawls may be employed, The pawl E is loosely held in the casing, resting against the concave end thereof. At its rear portion it is bifurcated to permit the passage of the wire therethrough. The spool has a squareor angular aperture extending entirely through it longitudinally to permit the insertion of a crank for turning the same. One end of the wire is attached to the device by passing it through an aperture in one end of the housing and securing it to the bolt connecting the two sections of the housings at that end. The other end of the Wire is passed through an aperture in the opposite end of the housing, and is connected to the spool so that when the spool is turned the slack will be wound thereon.

In first taking up the slack and applying the device to the wire I employ the clamps cured a wire or cord s, which is passed up and runs through and bears in an oblique slot 19 inthe upper edge of the jaw h, thence to and connected with one end of the ratchet-tightener. To clamp H on the opposite side of the ratchet-tightener a cord 8 is similarly connected, which passes through the aperture in the end of the housing and is connected to the spool. The wire to be tightened is held between the two clamps. By now turning the ratchet-spool the slack will be drawn up, and the ratchet is permanently applied by cutting the wire and connecting the ends thereto, as hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the tightener as permanently attached to a wire, and in Fig. l I have shown the manner in which sufficient slack is first taken up in the wire to permit permanent attachment of the tightener.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The wire-tightener comprising the case. or housing formed in two longitudinal sections cut away at the center to form a chamber B, a spool hung in said chamber and having its ends or shaft journaled in the sides thereof, said spool having an angular wrenchseat therein, a ratchet on each end of said spool inside the housing, a loose bifurcated pawl resting against the inner concave end of the housing and adapted to engage both ratchets, and the end bolts connecting said sections, substantially as specified.

2. A device for taking up slack, comprising the case or housing formed in two longitudinal sections cut away to form a chamber, a spool in said chamber and j ournaled in the sides thereof, a ratchet on each end of said spool inside the housing, a loose bifurcated pawl resting against the inner concave end of the housing and adapted to engage both ratchets, and the end bolts connecting said sections, in combination with the clamps H H, comprising each two jaws pivotally connected atone end and arranged to clamp the wire to be tightened between them, a wire or cord 8, connected to an aperture in one of the jaws of one clamp and passing upwardly and through a notch 120 in the other jaw, thence to andconnected to one of the end bolts of the housing, and a Wire or cord 3, similarly connected at one end to the other clamp and at its opposite end to said spool, substantially as specified.

presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SKELTON. W'itnesses:

WILLIAM R. McINTIR-E, PERRY O. SUIGGETT.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 15 

